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Raleigh, NC

Full City Profile · North Carolina · Wake County County

3.6 /5.0
B+ Good
470,763 Population 3,119/sq mi density
$82,424 Median Income $49,948 per capita
$377,800 Home Value $428,831 Zillow
$1,468 Median Rent 30.5% income on rent
62°F Avg Temperature 293 sunny days/yr
256 Violent Crime/100K 1,783 property/100K
B+
Overall
3.6 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A
Economy
4.4 / 5.0
$82,424 median income, 3.2% unemployment
A
Affordability
4.1 / 5.0
$377,800 home value, $1,468/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
256 violent crimes/100K
A+
Education
5.0 / 5.0
52.9% bachelor's degree or higher
Raleigh enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 62°F (17°C). Winters average 48°F in January while summers reach 81°F in July. The area gets 293 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 42.2 inches. The area receives 1.3 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40.

Temperature

48°F Jan (9°C) 81°F Jul (27°C)
Annual Average62.2°F
15% above US avg
January Average48°F (9°C)
July Average81°F (27°C)
Sunny Days293 days/yr

Geography

Elevation325 ft (99 m)
Area146.2 sq mi (378.6 km²)
Population Density3,119/sq mi
Coordinates35.8319°N, 78.6410°W
TimezoneAmerica/New_York
CountyWake County County
Nearest AirportRaleigh-Durham International (RDU)
9 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 42.2"
11% above US avg
Snowfall 1.3"
Wettest Month (Jul) 4.76"
Driest Month (Apr) 3.03"

Air Quality

AQI Median40.0
RatingGood

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

Ozone (O₃)0.0414 ppm
NO₂ (Nitrogen Dioxide)12.0 ppb
SO₂ (Sulfur Dioxide)0.09 ppb
CO (Carbon Monoxide)0.30 ppm
PM2.5 (Fine Particles)9.1 μg/m³

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively High
Risk Score95.6 / 100
Social Vulnerability10.6 / 100
Community Resilience87.1 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively High
Hurricane Relatively Moderate
Earthquake Relatively Low
Wildfire Very Low
Flood Relatively High
Hail Relatively High
Strong Wind Relatively Low
Heat Wave Relatively High
Winter Weather Relatively Moderate
Lightning Relatively High
Ice Storm Relatively High
Drought Relatively Low
Cold Wave Relatively Moderate
Landslide Relatively Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

2 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M2.7. Most recent: M2.5 on Mar 26, 2019.

Jul 12, 1993 5 km SW of Greensboro, North Carolina M2.7 109 km
Mar 26, 2019 8 km E of Archdale, North Carolina M2.5 112 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Hurricane History

20 hurricanes (Cat 1+) within 500 km since 1980. Strongest: Category 4. Most recent: Ian (2022, Cat 1).

Year Name Category Closest
2022 Ian Category 1 286 km
2020 Isaias Category 1 215 km
2019 Dorian Category 2 250 km
2018 Florence Category 2 197 km
2016 Matthew Category 1 241 km
2014 Arthur Category 2 223 km
2011 Irene Category 1 210 km
2005 Ophelia Category 1 233 km
2004 Alex Category 2 273 km
2004 Charley Category 1 226 km
2003 Isabel Category 2 128 km
1999 Irene Category 2 289 km
1999 Floyd Category 2 167 km
1998 Bonnie Category 3 174 km
1996 Fran Category 3 71 km
1996 Bertha Category 2 132 km
1989 Hugo Category 2 256 km
1986 Charley Category 1 226 km
1985 Gloria Category 2 284 km
1984 Diana Category 4 206 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Cat 1+, 1980–2026)

Tornado History

329 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF4. Total: 39 fatalities, 981 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Nov 27, 1988 EF4 11 km 4
Mar 28, 1984 EF4 96 km 16
Mar 28, 1984 EF4 94 km 3
Sep 27, 2024 EF3 77 km 0
Aug 8, 2024 EF3 64 km 1
Jul 19, 2023 EF3 71 km 0
Apr 16, 2011 EF3 89 km 0
Apr 16, 2011 EF3 82 km 6
Nov 15, 2008 EF3 66 km 1
Nov 23, 1992 EF3 40 km 0
Nov 23, 1992 EF3 56 km 2
Mar 28, 1984 EF3 97 km 0
Feb 22, 1971 EF3 87 km 2
Apr 18, 1969 EF3 99 km 0
Mar 24, 1969 EF3 90 km 1
Nov 8, 1957 EF3 82 km 0
Mar 15, 1953 EF3 49 km 0
Aug 7, 2024 EF2 96 km 0
May 13, 2019 EF2 18 km 0
Apr 19, 2019 EF2 50 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Wildfire History

4 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: LYNCH ROAD (1,824 ac, 2008).

Year Name Acres Distance
2008 LYNCH ROAD 1,824 79 km
2006 OVERHILLS 1,436 74 km
2008 HIGHWAY 1 766 37 km
1995 UNNAMED 510 83 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 48°F (9°C) 4.0 in
February 43°F (6°C) 3.6 in Coldest
March 51°F (10°C) 4.3 in
April 59°F (15°C) 3.0 in Driest
May 67°F (20°C) 4.0 in
June 75°F (24°C) 3.8 in
July 81°F (27°C) 4.8 in Warmest, Wettest
August 78°F (25°C) 4.5 in
September 72°F (22°C) 4.2 in
October 61°F (16°C) 3.2 in
November 52°F (11°C) 3.0 in
December 43°F (6°C) 3.2 in

Raleigh has a seasonal temperature swing of 38°F / from 43°F in February to 81°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 45.6 inches, with July being the wettest month (4.8") and April the driest (3.0").

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